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SARASOTA Observer
YourObserver.com
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2012
earns high marks for providing superior constituent services and votes to reduce government spending and regulations. As a longtime, successful businessman and entrepreneur, Buchanan understands that: 1) customer (constituent) service counts first; and 2) for any enterprise to survive, it cannot spend and borrow its way to prosperity. For six years running, Buchanan has been one of Congress’ staunchest advocates of a constitutional amendment requiring a balanced budget. We have always hoped Buchanan would be more fiscally conservative than he is. In that vein, the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste rates Buchanan as “friendly” — not its highest rating. And the National Taxpayers Union gives Buchanan a “B-” for voting to cut spending and regulations. He could be stronger. But put the whole package together. He brings much to the office: Great work ethic; a deep passion for doing what’s right for the economy; the defense of the nation and constituents; and proven business smarts and leadership. Recommendation: Buchanan
he told us. He is idealistic: “I will honor the responsibility of this position, which is to seek true justice, as I am beholden only to the people of Sarasota, Manatee and Desoto counties.” All that is to the good. But the state attorney’s job is no place for on-the-job training. Brodsky has served more than 20 years as a prosecutor in the State Attorney’s Office. He started there before college as an intern. Obviously, in his two decades there he has proven his competence and won the respect of his superior and peers. You have to earn the No. 2 position in the state attorney’s office — and then show your competence to keep it. When we polled six criminal-justice system insiders about Brodsky, the responses were unanimous. Those who have worked by his side, as opponents in the courtroom or judges who have witnessed his performance in and out of court ascribed three essential characteristics to Brodsky: competent, fair and a man of integrity. Recommendation: Brodsky
State Attorney
Florida Senate, District 26
Of all of the local elected offices, this one has more effects on the region’s quality of life than voters typically appreciate or understand. The man or woman who occupies this office essentially determines how this region addresses and handles law and order. The state attorney decides what charges, if any, will be imposed on an alleged perpetrator; he often decides whether an accused will go to trial or agree to a plea bargain. The state attorney, in effect, influences whether the region is hard or soft on criminals — and this affects our quality of life. It’s a big job. Ed Brodsky, currently the No. 2 prosecutor in the office, and John Torraco, a Sarasota criminal lawyer, are vying to replace retiring 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Earl Moreland. They are competing in their first campaigns for elected office. This race comes down to inexperience versus experience. Torraco has no experience as a prosecutor, nor as a manager/leader of a large organization of attorneys and support staff (more than 160 employees in three offices). In spite of that inexperience, when you speak with Torraco, you can’t help but conclude he is smart; has studied the operations of the state attorney’s office; and is passionate about wanting to bring positive change to the office. “It’s good to have turnover to get a fresh perspective,”
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Florida House, District 71
This contest is almost like that for the state attorney: experience versus inexperience — former state Rep. Bill Galvano, the Republican from Bradenton, versus Paula House, Democrat lawyer from Lake Placid and first-time legislative candidate. Like Bennett, Galvano previously reached his eight-year limit as a state representative in 2010. While in the House, he distinguished himself as chairman of five House committees, an indicator of his leadership abilities. More important, though, are Galvano’s positions on issues. There is a big difference in his and House’s philosophical views on the role of government. House is close to a classic proponent of government intervention and activism. She supports Obamacare; she said she was disappointed that Gov. Scott rejected federal funding for high-speed rail and federal Medicaid dollars; she referred to attempts to purge voter rolls of illegal voters as “voter suppression”; she opposes vouchers for students. Galvano is the opposite, a classic advocate of limited government. It doesn’t get any simpler than this to distinguish these two candidates: Asked what his top-three priorities if elected, Galvano responded: repeal unnecessary government regulation; cut spending; and reduce taxes. Recommendation: Galvano
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Florida House, District 72
District 72: Sarasota County from University Parkway west of Interstate 75 all the way south to Laurel, essentially most of northern Sarasota County. The race for this seat features incumbent Republican Ray Pilon versus Democrat Liz Alpert, a Sarasota family lawyer. Moderate-to-right conservative versus moderate-to-left liberal. Pilon: Free enterprise versus Alpert: larger government intrusion. More freedom versus less freedom. Pilon is wired for elected public service, and he does it satisfactorily. He passes the incumbent-performance test. Recommendation: Pilon
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District 71: West Manatee, all of Longboat Key and downtown Sarasota north along the bay. The incumbent in this district is Rep. Jim Boyd, first-term Republican from Bradenton who is seeking his second term. His opponent is Democrat Adam Tebrugge, former longtime assistant public defender from Sarasota. Using the criterion of making this a referendum on the incumbent’s performance, Boyd has earned the opportunity to retain his seat. Tebrugge likes to try to paint Boyd as beholden to insurance interests, primarily because Boyd owns an insurance agency in Bradenton. No one should “assume.” Truth is, Boyd led the Legislature’s efforts these past two years to pass autoinsurance-reform legislation that will reduce all Floridians’ mandatory PIP (Personal Injury Protection) premiums and stem the rise in injury-and-insurance fraud that is costing state consumers close to $1 billion a year. If Boyd is beholden to special insurance interests, they would be you — individual consumers and taxpayers, not Big Insurance. As an agent, Boyd benefits when the supply of insurance is plentiful and affordable. That means he can sell more. What’s more, Boyd also knows that if insurance rates keep rising, voters will blame him. His incentives are aligned with taxpayers. We admire Tebrugge. He despises corporate subsidies for economic development as much as we do. And like us, he supports a much more limited role for the state in public education. Beyond that, though, Tebrugge differs from our views on Obamacare, school vouchers and tenure. Recommendation: Boyd
Florida House, District 73
District 73: All of East Manatee County and Northeast Sarasota County. This contest is between incumbent, first-term Republican Rep. Greg Steube, lifelong Bradenton resident and lawyer, and Dr. Robert McCann, a lawyer and practicing doctor of osteopathic emergency medicine who is running as an “NPA,” Non-Party Affiliation. Dr. McCann is our kind of guy — nauseated by the two dominant political parties and all of the “pull peddlers” and leeches who perpetuate the system of buying and selling laws. He is an independent thinker and thinks our way. Asked his philosophy on the role of government, McCann, a man of few, direct words, said: “It should be very limited. I’m going to return government to the people.” To an extent, this race is a tough call. Floridians need more independent thinkers like McCann. But at the same time, Steube performed well and as voters expected him to perform in his freshman term. He held true to his self-description as an advocate for free enterprise and more freedom — compiling a record that favored lower taxes (eight votes) less government. There is no reason to reject Steube; there is reason is to encourage him to stay the course — expand freedom. Recommendation: Steube
Supreme Court Justices; District Court of Appeal Floridians rarely know how to vote on retaining Florida judges. To an extent, it’s a farcical event. It’s crazy to think Florida’s 11.4 million voters can keep track of Florida Supreme Court justices’ and the Court of Appeal judges’ decisions. Indeed, Major Harding, a former state High Court justice, says merit-retention votes for judges are not intended to be votes on judges’ decisions. Rather, he says, they are to give voters the opportunity to oust a justice or judge for judicial and behavioral improprieties. This year, there are groups that want to oust three Supreme Court justices — Peggy Quince, Fred Lewis and Barbara Pariente, regarded by conservatives who watch the court as “judicial activists.” Indeed, they are. They were on the Gore side of Gore v. Harris in 2000, and they also rejected Gov. Jeb Bush’s school voucher plan and a proposed amendment challenging Obamacare. Recommendation: “No” on the three Supreme Court justices; “Yes” on all of the District Court of Appeal judges.
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